Discover Texas Field Trip Funding Ideas
Up to $5,000 Road Scholarships from SYTA Youth Foundation
Student Youth Travel Association Youth Foundation offers Road Scholarships of up to $5,000 for groups of students taking part in educational travel including Discover Texas Field Trips. All Road Scholarship applications must be submitted by an educator or designated school official. There are opportunities to apply for this scholarship each spring and fall.
- The next application window is September 21 – November 6, 2026.
Target Community Engagement Funds
Community Engagement Funds (CEF) is a community grant program that empowers Target stores and distribution center leaders to make meaningful, localized giving decisions that meet the needs of the communities where our team members and guests live, work, and thrive.
Individual Target stores sometimes support local schools through community giving.
Funding may include:
- Transportation
- Educational programming
- Student experiences
Teachers should contact their local store's community engagement representative.
Local community grants are awarded through an open application process and provide funding directly from Walmart and Sam’s Club facilities to local organizations in the U.S. Local Community grants range from a minimum of $250 to a maximum of $5,000.
Grants
Donors Choose is an organization that connects teachers’ requests for donations with donors. Many corporate partners fund classroom projects throughout the year.
Possible Sponsors
- Many organizations are willing to sponsor field trips or provide scholarships for students.
- Your school district's Education Foundation
- Corporate Sponsorships – Parents may help with networking
- Kinder Morgan Foundation
- HEB Community Investment Program
- Parent Teacher Association
- Rotary Clubs
- Kiwanis Clubs
- Lions Clubs
- Local Chambers of Commerce
- Community foundations
- Parent booster clubs
- School PTO/PTA organizations
- Local banks and credit unions
- Energy companies and local businesses
- Use this Sponsorship Request Template Letter to request a donation.
Activities to Fundraise
Many schools successfully combine grants with fundraising such as:
- School Spirit Days - One elementary raised funds with "Hats for Houston" days. For $1, and in honor of Sam Houston, students could wear hats to school on select Fridays leading up to their field trip day.
- Fun runs
- Read-a-thons
- Spirit nights
- Restaurant give-back events
- Online crowdfunding
- Corporate sponsorships
- Student sponsorship letters
- Community donation drives
Other ideas include: